STOCKTON - When legal action was taken against Sarah Lang by a debt collector, she felt overwhelmed and didn't know what to do next.

Unable to afford an attorney, "for a while there I was feeling like there was no hope," said Lang of Stockton.

So, she chose to educate herself on collection laws and the judicial process she is forced to face.

And the San Joaquin County Legal Law Library, located in the Kress Legal Center at 20 N. Sutter St., provided her the venue and resources to do that.

"Much of the public doesn't know that the county law library exists," said Brenda Schultz, interim supervisor of the library.

But Schultz wants the community to know that the library makes available a vast collection of books, including self-help literature that tone down legal terminology, as well as computer databases that are accessible to anyone.

The law library also hosts periodic free legal clinics run by the San Joaquin County Bar Association, which recruits attorneys to volunteer to provide free legal advice.

"(The library) gives the public equitable access to the law," Schultz said. "We just guide them to the resources we think they might need."

Only attorneys are allowed to check out books, but self-litigants can come in during open hours to read, surf the databases and make copies.

Lang received an information packet that explained the court process on civil matters, and staff members guided her to the appropriate reading material. She also was referred to a nonprofit law group.

It's possible Lang has a longer road ahead in her legal battle, but at least now she has some direction.

"They did help me find certain things," Lang said. "I give them an A plus."

The library's stock isn't only for those needing to help themselves.

Attorneys can check out research material to use for their cases and continuing education books to brush up on their knowledge.

There are practice guides and books on federal and state codes, statutes and regulations, case law and local ordinances.

The library is currently a couple of blocks east of the San Joaquin County Superior Court.

It was convenient enough for Jeffrey Silvia to pop in between a two-hour break from a court session, rather than having to drive back to his office.

"Today I'm actually researching an issue that is germane to one of my criminal cases," said Silvia, who practices injury and criminal law.

While it may be more convenient to pull up an Internet link to some information page, he admits, Silvia finds that books have more precise and detailed explanations.

The library, he said, "is a vital part of the community."

Local attorney David Wellenbrock, who sat at a table with his laptop, said the library is pretty well equipped for a working lawyer. In fact, he said, he works out of it a couple of days a week.

"It's what makes it possible for me to practice," said Wellenbrock, who previously has served 18 years on the library's board of trustees.

"I've been to a lot of centers, and this is about the nicest I've seen," he said. "They're doing a nice job of making this publicly responsible."

Stockton's law library was established under a state statute that requires counties provide the public service. Although it is funded by court fees, it operates separately under a board of trustees with an annual budget of $542,890.

The library was previously located inside the courthouse. Soon, it will have a new home of its own.

Library officials purchased a building formerly owned by State Farm at 9 S. El Dorado St. for $752,000. The location is across from a site where construction is expected to begin on a new courthouse in 2014.

"It was a good value," said Jeffrey Prag, president of the library's board of trustees. "We were trying to control our costs for future generations. If we own the building, we have that ability, because rent will presumably continue to rise through the years.

"We view this purchase as a long term investment."

The building, he said, is being refurbished.

Prag, also a long-time Stockton attorney, anticipates the new location will be more accessible to court clients because of its proximity to the new courthouse.

The goal is "to provide legal materials for the entire community, not only those who are licensed to practice or judges," Prag said.